From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2004-01-18 05:28:53 UTC
Subject: RE: Vomiting 11 week old ferret
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8375289.1074403733161.JavaMail.root@indium.smartgroups.com>
Dear Melanie:
A couple of notes:
Foreign bodies are always the #1 cause of vomiting in young ferrets. Even though you have a negative X-ray and barium X-ray, 70% of foreign bodies are negative with this panel. The fact that she vomits during play is also compatible with a foreign body.
The anemia suggests the possibility of a gastric ulcer - not unusual in young ferrets adjusting to a new household and pecking order. An ulcer may also cause vomiting.
Pepto-Bismol offers nothing beyond what the carafate does, and is stressful to administer. I'm not a fan, and it causes or worsens stress ulcers.
For ulcers, the carafate is better administered 10 minutes before a meal, rather than every 8 hours, and I usually switch to a bland diet if I am thinking ulcers.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM
Author wrote:
> Background info
> Precious my now 11 week old ferret was purchased December 22. She was taken to the veterinarian and given a clean bill of health along with her distemper shot. She then began introductions with my established 3 ferrets. Three days later she vomited once during an especially rough bout of play. This happened again on the two successive days, exact same scenario.
> She was taken to the vet given a regular x ray, fecal, and bloodwork. The xray and fecal were both normal. The irregular findings from the CBC panel were:
> Hemoglobin 11.3 g/dL(low)
> Hematocrit 32.3 %(low)
> WBC 8900 (high)
> alkaline Phosphatase 255 U/L(high)
> Phosphorus 8.7 mg/dL (high)
> Potassium 116 g/dL (high)
> Chloride 2.4 g/dL (low)
> She was then placed on amoxycillin. Each mL contains 50mg of amoxicillin (concentration) with .4cc given every 12 hours.
> She did not stop vomiting. The vomiting continued 1 time per day for 5 days and then 2 times on the 6th day. These times she was out of the cage, but not engaged in active play.
> Precious was again taken to the vet for a barium xray. The resulting xray showed no evidence of a blockage. She is now on carafate 1/8 tablet in .5cc of water every 8 hours and pepto bismol .5cc every 8 hours.
> Throughout the entire time she has had firm stools, urinates with no problem, eats, drinks, and plays very actively. In all she is showing no symptoms of any problem except for the 5 seconds out of every day when she vomits.
> At this point there is no definite diagnosis of what the problem may be, and I would appreciate any further advice and information.
End of ferrethealth Digest
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